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Distance education, for long the Cinderella of the educational spectrum, had emerged in the 1970s and early 1980s as a valued component of many national educational systems in both developed and developing countries. The foundation of the Open Universities, developments in communications technology and in audio-, video- and computer-based learning, a new sophistication in the design of print-based materials and better support systems for the student learning at a distance had all contributed to the availability and quality of distance education programmes.Originally published in 1988, this book chronicles this great change in distance education. It presents the best writings on the subject published during the previous ten years. The articles selected for this volume provided a new scholarly basis for the theory and practice of distance education. The editors have brought together contributions from many countries and present authoritative introductions to each of the nine sections. This book provided those in both developed and developing countries with a guideline to one of the most rapidly expanding areas of education at the time.

This book suggests that apparently unrelated vignettes of Mikhail Gorbachev, Robert Mugabe, and Harold Wilson are closely connected and illustrates that the concept of distance education may be seen as one of those innovations which was forged on the frontier of European expansion overseas.

Research has indicated that assessment is a key factor in student learning. This book details the issues of assessment in the open and distance learning field, where changes in budgets, the location and environment of the students and other factors have prompted innovations in assessment.

The Business of Innovating Online responds to a critical need for concrete narratives of innovation success that can serve as a foundation for administrators and leaders who are in need of practical guidance as they scale and grow their online learning organizations.Through specific examples and practical suggestions from experienced e-learning leaders, readers will be introduced to concrete strategies for how to create a climate of creativity and innovation that can lead to more successful and scalable online programs and initiatives. The Business of Innovating Online demystifies the relationship between business, creativity, and innovation by describing the logistics required to create an agile online education enterprise. Topics discussed will include:- Defining innovation and creativity for online education and e-learning- Knowing when and how to innovate- Creating a culture of innovation- Effectively leading innovation- Collaborative innovation- Making innovation stick and transitioning innovative strategies into day-to-day practice- Assuring quality in the midst of innovation- Staffing structures/administrative stability to support creativity and innovationThe Business of Innovating Online provides both novice and experienced online education administrators with a comprehensive overview of a range of online innovations, how they came to be created, the components that led to their success, and concrete steps that they can take to create a more innovative culture for their own e-learning organization.

During the last decades, our society is witnessing an authentic revolution that, in a dizzying manner has deeply influenced, modified, and transformed the way of life of human beings. This constant and unstoppable revolution is transmuting all areas of our life: social, cultural, personal, labor, economic, training, etc. This new society is characterized by a high generation of knowledge and the constant and fluid processing of information. In this macro-context, the MOOC phenomenon emerged. MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) courses are based on the principles of massive, free access to all materials and resources offered online. This new didactic path can be constituted in an innovative techno-social tendency, especially oriented in the panorama of Higher Education to stimulate university improvement, open opportunities at the same time for education and training or, simply, derive towards a new business model for the universities. In addition to being an entry point for the popularization of science and knowledge, the future possibilities are enormous and are being studied in all their various dimensions. Many initiatives as a result have been developed to implement this new form of education. MOOC Courses and the Future of Higher Education presents the latest research theories and current examples of MOOC courses practices in Higher Education. The chapters represent an extensive assortment of interpretations and practices examples of MOOC courses, across areas as varied as teaching methodologies, instructional innovations, educational technology, etc. This work is structured in three sections, the first one covers the university institution in the knowledge society, the second analyzes the MOOC training proposals, and the third discusses the future role of MOOCs. Technical topics discussed in the book include: The Virtualization of Teaching in Higher EducationTraining and Professional Development at the e-UniversityTaxonomy of MOOCsMOOC: Strengths and WeaknessesMOOCs and the Scientific Community: Challenges and InnovationMOOC PlatformsDirectory of MOOC ResourcesMOOC: Reflections of the Future

The Handbook of Distance Education, 4th Edition is a comprehensive compendium of research in the field of distance education. The volume is divided into four sections covering the historical and theoretical foundations of distance education, attributes of teaching and learning using technology, management and administration, and different audiences and providers. Throughout, leading scholars address future research needs and directions based on current research, established practices, and recent changes to implementation, pedagogy, and policy.

Synchronous technologies, particularly interactive video conferencing (IVC), are becoming common modes of teaching and delivering college courses. The increasing popularity of IVC in the U.S. and abroad calls for more pedagogically effective practices for instructors using this technology. This volume focuses on innovative and proven approaches to IVC teaching in a variety of disciplines: English, history, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, social work, and elementary and special education. Contributors hail from a pioneering university at the forefront of distance education and understand the practice and potential of IVC teaching at the highest levels. Chapters outline the challenges and benefits of IVC teaching from pedagogical, technical, and administrative perspectives.

This book, first published in 1984, provides a comprehensive review of the range of technology that was being used in distance education. Technological developments in word processing, video-disc and viewdata as well as computer-based learning had revolutionised the potential for distance education. These developments required the role of more'conventional'distance learning media, such as broadcasting, tuition and text, to be reassessed. This book, written by international experts in the field, explored the state of the art at the time, and also provided their ideas on how future developments were likely to evolve. This book is ideal for those studying education and communications.

This volume contains a collection of critical reflections by teachers and administrators in open and distance education. They highlight educational problems and issues of a more general nature caused by the increased use of distance education within conventional higher education institutions.

This title examines the implications of personal, practical theories of distance learning for both distance learners and those who prepare distance learning materials. Case studies are used to reinforce and illustrate the arguments.

How can open and distance learning and information and communications technology (ICT) provide us with more - and better - teachers?Open and distance learning is increasingly used in teacher education in developing and developed countries. It has the potential to strengthen and expand the teaching profession of the twenty-first century and to help achieve the target of education for all by 2015. Teacher Education Through Open and Distance Learning examines the case for using open and distance learning and ICT to train our educators. It describes and analyses the ways in which these methods and technologies are used for:•initial teacher training and continuing professional development•training principals and school managers•training those who provide non-formal adult and community education•communities of practice and sharing of knowledge and ideas within the teaching professionIt also discusses the policy-making, management, technology, costing, evaluation and quality assurance aspects of this work. The contributors are outstanding practitioners in the field. The first review in over a decade, Teacher Education Through Open and Distance Learning draws on wide-ranging and international experience to summarise the strengths and weaknesses of new approaches to the education of teachers. It offers invaluable guidance to policymakers, planners, headteachers and teachers.

Distance learning is becoming an increasingly popular way of studying, and most universities now provide courses using these methods. Today's students, though, are demanding high quality, consumer-focused and flexible courses, as well as learning resources and active learner support. This means that providers of distance education need to reconsider key issues about their learner support systems, ensuring that this is delivered appropriately and effectively.Considering the changing needs and demands of distance education students, this book draws together contributions from the UK, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Botswana, to offer an international perspective on:• the challenges and opportunities of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)• quality assurance, commercialisation and the learner as consumer• the impact on learners of cultural differences on internationalised curricula• the implications for learner support of a wider range of learnersThis book should be read by all those involved in developing and delivering distance education courses.

The'e-revolution'that has swept the higher and further education sector over the last decade is now starting to make a real impact in school level teaching and learning around the world. There is a rapidly growing interest in, and demand for open and distance learning solutions for schools, not only in terms of improving access (for example, for the children of travellers, or for those in geographically remote areas) but also in terms of improving pedagogy for more'conventional'teaching, by offering teachers, parents and pupils greater support and access to learning materials and resources. This ground-breaking book, with contributions from around the world including the UK, US, New Zealand, Canada and India, looks at the key areas of development in this new field, provides best practice examples and inspiring case studies and will increase the awareness of the opportunities and challenges in this potentially huge field.

This book is aimed at those who are considering, or just starting to plan open and distance learning courses. It offers practical advice on how to find your students, expand your audience and become cost-effective without compromising quality. The main areas covered are: basic principles and different approaches to ODL different types of self-study materials, media, and student support from your institution building quality assurance into the development process With a wide range of practical, tried-and-tested examples and case studies, the book provides a complete guide to setting up ODL courses.

The author of this text concentrates on the management and support systems needed in open and distance learning, to help the reader decide whether an open learning system is appropriate for their given situation.